文章基本信息

标题：Rethinking the Vulnerability of Minority Populations in Research
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作者：Wendy Rogers ; Margaret Meek Lange
期刊名称：American journal of public health
印刷版ISSN：0090-0036
出版年度：2013
卷号：103
期号：12
页码：2141-2146
DOI：10.2105/AJPH.2012.301200
语种：English
出版社：American Public Health Association
摘要：The Belmont Report, produced in 1979 by a United States government commission, includes minority populations among its list of vulnerable research participants. In this article, we consider some previous attempts to understand the vulnerability of minorities in research, and then provide our own account. First we examine the question of the representation of minorities in research. Then we argue that the best understanding of minorities, vulnerability, and research will begin with a broad understanding of the risk of individual members of minority groups to poor health outcomes. We offer a typology of vulnerability to help with this task. Finally, we show how researchers should be guided by this broad analysis in the design and execution of their research. The concept of “vulnerability” is used in research ethics to signify that those identified as vulnerable need extra protections over and above the usual protections offered to participants in research. 1–3 Various types of vulnerability have been identified, 4,5 and the lists of those considered vulnerable regarding research participation is now extensive. 6,7 Despite these measures, there is ongoing concern that identifying groups or individuals as vulnerable can trigger paternalism and stereotyping, 8 and that protecting vulnerable groups by excluding them from research may do more harm than good. 9 In this article we argue that ethical engagement of minority populations in research requires, among other things, a better understanding of what is meant by “vulnerable” in this context, and we offer an account of vulnerability that provides practical guidance to those wishing to perform research with minority populations.